Tuesday, December 28, 2004
Helene and I are up in Santa Barbara, a very unseasonably rain soaked region, but compared to the disaster in the Indian Ocean coastal regions I'll pick the Central Coast this week. So as our hearts go out for the victims of the Tsunami we will keep on with our plans to taste throughout the region this week as long as the roads stay open.
Last night at the suggestion of Brian Loring, from Loring Wine Company, we went to a mom and pop Italian in Lompoc called La Botte on H Street. What a find. Perfectly prepared cooking, fresh and crisp Caesar salad that I long for at Flemings or Arterra. I don't quite understand why the lettuce in San Diego just plain sucks compared to a region only four hours away. The romaine was a brilliant green, crisp, tasty. The pizza was home made with cheese that was rich and creamy. The two pasta dishes, one traditional Bolognese with meat sauce and home made oven baked meatballs and the other, Linguine with Clams in red sauce were both perfect too. Full of flavor, zesty and of course the love from a kitchen that makes Italian food the Sicilian way. There was also the sautéed mushrooms which had just enough garlic/ Every dish was just delicious.
As for the wine, we went for the house Italian red by the glass, knowing that it was pouring outside and that many wines await us the next few days (and nights), the 2001 Monte Antico, was a perfect choice. This is a wine that I have been tasting since 1990 and know that it ages quite a while. Both the 2000 and 1997 were equally impressive in my tastes, and while no one will ever call this a Super Tuscan, it really is a super wine made from Sangiovese, with a dash of Cabernet and maybe some Merlot. The wine has the kind of pasta red body, but a lot more fruit, hints of tar and plums with a bright berry character, and tons of fruit. The wine is full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a long finish. While I don't know if this wine will surpass the 1990 in my mind, it is clearly one of the best VALUE reds on the shelves today and perfect with all those Italian dishes you want when its cold outside.
Last night at the suggestion of Brian Loring, from Loring Wine Company, we went to a mom and pop Italian in Lompoc called La Botte on H Street. What a find. Perfectly prepared cooking, fresh and crisp Caesar salad that I long for at Flemings or Arterra. I don't quite understand why the lettuce in San Diego just plain sucks compared to a region only four hours away. The romaine was a brilliant green, crisp, tasty. The pizza was home made with cheese that was rich and creamy. The two pasta dishes, one traditional Bolognese with meat sauce and home made oven baked meatballs and the other, Linguine with Clams in red sauce were both perfect too. Full of flavor, zesty and of course the love from a kitchen that makes Italian food the Sicilian way. There was also the sautéed mushrooms which had just enough garlic/ Every dish was just delicious.
As for the wine, we went for the house Italian red by the glass, knowing that it was pouring outside and that many wines await us the next few days (and nights), the 2001 Monte Antico, was a perfect choice. This is a wine that I have been tasting since 1990 and know that it ages quite a while. Both the 2000 and 1997 were equally impressive in my tastes, and while no one will ever call this a Super Tuscan, it really is a super wine made from Sangiovese, with a dash of Cabernet and maybe some Merlot. The wine has the kind of pasta red body, but a lot more fruit, hints of tar and plums with a bright berry character, and tons of fruit. The wine is full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a long finish. While I don't know if this wine will surpass the 1990 in my mind, it is clearly one of the best VALUE reds on the shelves today and perfect with all those Italian dishes you want when its cold outside.
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